2017 ASHRAE Annual Conference

More and more high rise and multi-family projects now include residential ERVs but these residential units differ greatly from their commercial counterpart. This seminar lays out the basics of residential ERVs. It covers the main components of a residential ERV and their impacts/importance in a residential application. It addresses the different and typical features and capabilities available on the market from different manufacturers. It also demystifies the relationship between the different certification programs, test methods and limitations. It also briefly looks at different methods of installation.

This session explores the scopes of ASHRAE 62.2, the Passive House standard and the NYC mechanical code as they relate to in-unit ventilation. Although multifamily high rise buildings fall under the commercial code, individual apartments can be required to comply with ASHRAE 62.2. Fresh air is mandatory, recovering the energy contained in the stale indoor air helps reduce heating and cooling. How to decide what is needed for a project – ERV or HRV is discussed. Design of these systems, including various air sealing, filtration and insulation details is also discussed.

Code compliance in many jurisdictions allows for both prescriptive and compliance paths for a dwellings energy consumption. ASHRAE 90.2 is an example of a compliance path outlining the application of such simulation models. A reference house has been use to evaluate the accuracy of Air-to-Air Energy Recovery simulation and associated energy use reduction in these models. This presenation provides information on the effect in modeling of Air-to-Air Energy Recovery for residential dwellings and evaluate the role of Air-to-Air Energy Recovery in a net zero home.

Multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) represent a significant and growing proportion of housing in North America. Traditionally, ventilation air is provided by a central corridor air supply system and is distributed among the suites through entry door undercuts. This system, although being used for decades, has proven to be neither effective nor efficient from an energy or indoor air quality perspective. In this seminar results from a study on the impact of using individual in-suite Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) and Integrated Fan Coils (IFC) with energy recovery in high-rise residential buildings are investigated and compared to traditional centralized make-up air systems.